Giving to Nevada - Matching Gifts
More than 8,600 companies match donations made by employees, their families, and retirees to universities and other institutions of higher education. If your company participates in such a program, your gift can be doubled or even tripled for the University of Nevada, Reno. To see if your employer has a matching gift program, click here.
Matching gift programs generally match at a ratio of one-half to three times the amount of the donor's gift. Company matching gift policies are different. They vary by the match ratio, maximum annual payout, payment distribution time frame, and minimum amount to be matched. Although companies with matching gift policies will match gifts given by employees, some also will match gifts given by spouses of employees, retirees, or spouses of retirees. In addition, some companies will match gifts made by company directors or agents.
There are two basic ways to claim a matching gift. The first involves the donor sending his/her gift to University of Nevada, Reno Foundation with the employer's matching gift form, at which point the Foundation verifies the receipt of the gift and returns the form to the employer. The second involves a paperless route whereby donors register their contributions electronically, either by telephone or by Internet. Regardless of the method used, the end result is the same—the University benefits twice from the donor's generosity! Keep in mind that the onus is on the donor to initiate the match and obtain the company matching gift forms.
Matching volunteer time
Some companies provide matching gift grants to organizations where employees, spouses and their dependents have volunteered a minimum amount of time. Gifts may be for individual or team volunteers. For instance, Exxon’s program provides that 20 hours of volunteer time equals a $500 gift to qualified organizations. The onus is on the volunteer to initiate the match and obtain the company matching gift information.
Recognition for matching gifts
Donors who have their gifts matched receive recognition for the value of their own out-of-pocket gift plus the value of the matching gift. Hence, a donor who makes a gift of $750 that is matched with $750 will receive recognition for $1,500.